PTSD is an acronym thrown around often but not many truly understand what it is, and a team of researchers now say it might be linked with accelerated aging, making it more important to understand this disorder.
Recent studies reveal that people with post-traumatic stress disorder a.k.a. PTSD could also be at risk for accelerated ageing or premature senescence, according to a team of researchers including an Indian-origin scientist.
In the past, PTSD has been also linked with depression, sleep disorder, drug problems, anger and even anorexia and bulimia, but never before PTSD has been related to aging until now.
Dilip V. Jeste, professor of psychiatry at University of California - San Diego said this is the first study of its type to associate PTSD, which is a psychological disorder with no established genetic basis, and is caused by external, traumatic stress, with long-term, systemic effects on a basic biological process such as ageing.
Jeste, along with his colleagues conducted a thorough review of published empirical studies relevant to early ageing in PTSD, and covered multiple databases going back to the year 2000. Jeste and his team identified 64 relevant studies, out of which 22 were suitable for calculating overall effect sizes for biomarkers and 10 for mortality, according to reports on The Times Of India.
Seven out of 10 studies indicated a mild-to-moderate association of PTSD with earlier mortality, consistent with an early onset or acceleration of ageing in PTSD. First author James B. Lohr, professor of psychiatry explained that though these findings do not speak to whether accelerated ageing is linked with PTSD, they do argue the need to re-conceptualize PTSD as something more than just a mental illness.
Also, the studies show that people with PTSD had telomeres (an essential part of human cells that affect how our cells age) with a shorter length. Telomeres are type of protective cap for chromosomes. While older individuals generally have shorter telomeres, thus the fact that these individuals with the disorder are showing signs of aging proves that there must be a link of some kind.
Citing the findings from the studies, healthcare workers and researchers want to look further into this matter to see what else they can find, according to a report on Guardian Liberty Voice.
Apparently, the best way to help these individuals is to collect more and more information so that they know what they're dealing with. Although, there is no confirmation that the disorder causes accelerated aging positively, it cannot be denied that there is a definite link between the two.
James B. Lohr said, "Our findings warrant a deeper look at this phenomenon and a more integrated medical-psychiatric approach to their care."
That said, the general community still seems to lack awareness, and not everyone is getting all the help they need. It's imperative that this disorder is not misunderstood.
The study appeared online in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
